ac acoustics

Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1990, the alternative rock band a.c. acoustics began with Paul Campion on vocals and guitar plus Caz Riley on bass. Early experiments brought in saxophone and violin as well as second guitarist Roger Ward, yet the group split before any releases and soon regrouped with Dave Gormley added on drums. Their five-track Wrist Eye demo, issued in summer 1992 and featuring Teenage Fanclub member Gerard Love on backing vocals, revealed a tighter, more defined sound that earned the band a deal with Elemental Records and opening slots for PJ Harvey and the Jesus Lizard. The 1993 single ‘Sweatlodge’ preceded the following year’s mini-album Able Treasury. From 1995 to 1997 the quartet released one EP annually while Mark Raine replaced Ward on guitar. Victory Parts appeared in 1998 and brought live shows with the Stereophonics, Embrace, and Placebo. Despite strong press and peer acclaim, a.c. acoustics left Elemental for Yoyo Records and delivered the EPs Like Ribbons and She’s With Stars that same year. In 2000 the band moved to Cooking Vinyl Records, releasing the EP Crush with vocal contributions from Placebo’s Brian Molko along with the albums Understanding Music and O. Much of the latter evoked the Byrds meeting Joy Division, its chiming guitars riding a pulsating drumbeat. A hugely underrated unit.